Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-10

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In some countries, more and more people are becoming interested in finding out about the history of the house or building they live in.

What are the reasons for this?

How can people research this?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 7.5)

In recent years, an increasing number of individuals have shown a keen interest in discovering the history of their residential properties. This curiosity stems primarily from a desire to connect with the past alongside practical concerns regarding property value and renovation. Fortunately, modern technology and public archives provide several accessible ways to conduct such research.

There are two main reasons why people want to learn about the history of their homes. Firstly, human curiosity drives individuals to feel a personal connection to the space they inhabit. Learning about former occupants, past events, or the architectural era of a building adds a rich layer of character and story to a living space. Secondly, practical and financial motives often play a significant role. When planning renovations or repairs, understanding the age, structural modifications, and original materials used is crucial for safety and budget estimation. Furthermore, knowing if a building holds heritage status is essential, as this may impose legal restrictions on alterations.

To investigate a building's past, individuals can utilize several effective resources. A primary method is accessing public records and government archives. Local town halls, land registries, and historical societies usually maintain property deeds, building permits, census data, and archived maps that reveal when a structure was built and who previously owned it. Additionally, digitized databases and online genealogy tools have made tracing property records far more convenient. Finally, word-of-mouth research remains a valuable approach; speaking with long-term neighbors or local historians can yield personal anecdotes and detailed insights that official documents might lack.

In conclusion, people seek information about their home's past out of personal fascination and practical necessity. Through public archives, online property databases, and conversations with community elders, residents can easily uncover the rich backstory of their living spaces.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses both parts of the prompt. You clearly identify two reasons for the interest in home history—personal connection and practical/financial necessity—and provide three distinct methods for research: public archives, online databases, and oral history. The ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as mentioning heritage status and building permits. The position is clear from the introduction and maintained throughout the essay. The response is balanced and directly answers the prompt without any irrelevant information.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the reasons and the research methods is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion', which guide the reader through your argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. The flow is natural, and the referencing is precise throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary that is well-suited to the academic context. Phrases such as 'residential properties', 'structural modifications', 'heritage status', and 'digitized databases' show a high level of precision. The word choice is natural, and there are no noticeable errors in collocation. You successfully use less common vocabulary to convey your ideas with clarity and sophistication, which is indicative of a high band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences with subordinate clauses (e.g., 'When planning renovations or repairs, understanding the age... is crucial'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and tense usage is excellent. There are no significant grammatical slips that impede communication. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a high level of accuracy throughout the entire response.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.